Is Highways England the best guardian for rail heritage and dormant resource?

[whole diary]

[grahame]

From New Civil Engineer

National Highways scrutinised over four more historic bridge infills

National Highways is under pressure over four more controversial bridge infills which were carried out to historic structures before the infamous Great Musgrave fallout.

Campaigners claim that National Highways failed to obtain relevant planning consents for work on four historic bridges which were infilled using emergency powers between January 2019 and May 2021. National Highways disputes the claims and believes it does have the necessary consents for the infillings.

The HRE Group – an alliance of engineers, sustainable transport advocates and greenway developers – claims that the infillings have “questionable legal status” and is urging the four respective local authorities to assess whether National Highways should be ordered to reverse the work.

If the councils do issue enforcement orders for the infills to be removed, costs are likely to run into the millions.

[grahame]

From Lancs Live

'Vandalised' Cumbria railway bridge reopens two years after filled in with concrete

A Victorian railways bridge has finally reopened two years after National Highways filled it with concrete. The act was branded 'cultural vandalism'.

The Great Musgrave Bridge near Warcop was filled in by the highway agency in July 2021. The decision was made after fears the bridge could collapse.

Thousands of tons of concrete were poured into the 161-year-old bridge costing a whopping £124,000. But opponents said the work was taken "without justification" and the filling in would stop the bridge being used by walkers and cyclists.

This is just one of dozens of bridges that campaigners argue were infilled or demolished with no consideration taken about their heritage value. More than 800 people objected and Eden District Council issued an enforcement notice in September last year after refusing retrospective planning permission.

After listening to campaigners, work to remove the concrete started in July and the archway has been restored to was it once one. The bridge opened on Friday at 6pm.

[CyclingSid]

and the total cost to the tax payer?